Spain luxury hotel scammer booked rooms for one cent, police say
Police arrest a 20-year-old suspected of defrauding a luxury Madrid hotel of more than €20,000 by manipulating an online payment system.
No breakthrough, no breakdown in Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva
Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid explains what happened—and what didn’t—at the third round of Russia-Ukraine talks.
US union membership soared to 16-year high in 2025 despite Trump assault
Union coverage slightly increased last year even as White House tried to eliminate contracts for thousands of workers
The number of workers covered under union contracts increased to a 16-year high in 2025, despite ongoing attempts by the Trump administration to wipe out collective bargaining agreements for tens of thousands of federal workers, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About 16.5 million workers were covered by a union contract in 2025, up from 16 million in 2024 and the highest level since 2009. The increase stems from workers joining unions as members – 14.7 million US workers were union members in 2025, up from 14.2 million workers in 2024.
Continue reading...Fourth alleged rape victim testifies against son of Norway’s future queen: “He just wouldn’t stop” – CBS News
Real Madrid’s Vinicius to have alleged racist abuse investigated by UEFA
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior alleges racist abuse against Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni in the UEFA Champions League.
Russia’s hybrid warfare rattles Poland and NATO – NPR
Hundred-year reveal: Catalonian chalet confirmed as Gaudí work in centenary year
Xalet del Catllaràs contains elements of architect’s naturalistic style, expressed in works such as Park Güell and Sagrada Família
An elegant modernist building in the mountains north of Barcelona, originally constructed to house engineers establishing a nearby mine, has been confirmed as a work of Antoni Gaudí, Catalonia’s most celebrated and distinctive architect.
The Xalet del Catllaràs, about 80 miles from Barcelona in the county of Berguedà, was built in 1905 and commissioned by Eusebi Güell, Gaudí’s lifelong patron. Güell was the owner of a cement company with mines in the region and he needed somewhere to house the engineers, many of them British, who would help extract the coal for his factories.
Continue reading...Belgian investigation into three Jewish men sparks diplomatic row with US
US ambassador accused of interference after labelling inquiry into suspected illegal circumcisions ‘antisemitic’
A diplomatic row is escalating between Belgium and the US, with Donald Trump’s ambassador refusing to apologise for accusing his host country of antisemitism and reportedly threatening to bar a socialist politician from travelling to the US.
Bill White, a staunch ally of the president like many US ambassadors, on Monday demanded Belgium drop a “ridiculous” and “antisemitic” investigation into three Jewish men suspected of performing circumcisions without medical qualifications.
Continue reading...‘Insidious shift’: Gobsmacked experts stunned as Trump admin trades Gulf access for cash – AlterNet
- 'Insidious shift': Gobsmacked experts stunned as Trump admin trades Gulf access for cash AlterNet
- Trump is privatizing US imperialism: His Board of Peace is the next step The Hill
- 'A very MAGA agenda': Is Trump’s Board of Peace meant to replace the United Nations? France 24
- What America forgets about the UN Financial Times
- Everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s Board of Peace BBC
Britons living in Europe face repayment hikes amid Reeves student loans row
Exclusive: UK graduates in Germany, Belgium and possibly other countries informed of rises as salary threshold is cut
Britons living in some European countries face a huge rise in their student loan repayments later this year, the Guardian can reveal, in a move that threatens to trigger a fresh backlash for Rachel Reeves.
UK graduates working in Germany and Belgium – and possibly other countries – have been told that their monthly repayments will increase from April, the Guardian can reveal.
Continue reading...Benfica midfielder denies racially abusing Vinicius after Real Madrid match halted
Benfica claim there is a "defamation campaign" against Gianluca Prestianni as Uefa launch an investigation into claims he racially abused Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.
Benfica midfielder denies racially abusing Vinicius after Real Madrid match halted
Benfica claim there is a "defamation campaign" against Gianluca Prestianni as Uefa launch an investigation into claims he racially abused Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.
Shocking Footage Shows Moment ‘Flying Truck’ Crashes Into House – The Daily Beast
- Shocking Footage Shows Moment ‘Flying Truck’ Crashes Into House The Daily Beast
- Watch: Skier tells BBC of 'panic' as avalanche hit Italian slopes BBC
- People Keep Dying in Italy This Winter. What the Heck Is Going on? Outside Magazine
- Wild video shows avalanche spill down mountainside, engulfing skiers fleeing for their lives New York Post
- Wall of Snow Swallows Group of Skiers During Powerful Avalanche Yahoo
Rescuers search for nine missing skiers after California avalanche
Forecasters warn that heavy snowfall is likely to continue in the area over the next few days, making rescue efforts more difficult.
Hungary, Slovakia stop Ukraine’s diesel supply with immediate effect – Euronews.com
- Hungary, Slovakia stop Ukraine's diesel supply with immediate effect Euronews.com
- Hungary will suspend diesel shipments to Ukraine over interruption to Russian oil supply Associated Press News
- Ukraine’s Neighbors Threaten to Cut Off Energy Supplies The Wall Street Journal
- Hungary, Slovakia look to reserves after Croatia cautions against Russian oil request Reuters
- Hungary halts diesel supplies to Ukraine until Druzhba oil pipeline resumes work, Hungarian foreign minister Українська правда
Takaichi, reelected as Japan’s leader, wants to cooperate with US in rare earths development – Associated Press News
- Takaichi, reelected as Japan's leader, wants to cooperate with US in rare earths development Associated Press News
- Takaichi Formally Elected PM, Eyes Expedited Budget Deliberation Bloomberg
- Takaichi, reelected as Japan's leader, wants to cooperate with U.S. in rare earths development PBS
- The world’s most powerful woman The Economist
- Opinion: After a stunning election, Japan will be unleashed. Or is it already too late? The Globe and Mail
Greetings from Cairo, where lights and decorations transform the city during Ramadan – NPR
Wave of arrests over killing of French nationalist piles pressure on far left
Eleven people are in detention in connection with the killing of far-right student activist Quentin Deranque.
‘Bored by all the sex and violins’: readers on Wuthering Heights film
Reaction to Emerald Fennell’s movie adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi
My group of six English teachers – aged from 30 to 54 – saw the film on Friday. We are still processing our thoughts in a group chat. We agreed that the visuals were often delightfully shocking. We talked about the contrasts between the lavish costumes and the moor landscape, which we thought Fennell got right. We talked about the Charlie XCX music and how well it evoked the landscape and the spirit of the book.
Continue reading...Russia-Ukraine talks: All the mediation efforts, and where they stand
Nearly four years into Russia's war on Ukraine, multiple peace efforts have been started, but no end is in sight.